ATK Mohun Bagan have signed Liston Colaco from Hyderabad FC on a record transfer fee that is the highest-ever for an Indian player.
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East Bengal defender Abhishek Ambekar has hailed the record transfer of attacker Liston Colaco, from Hyderabad FC to ATK Mohun Bagan. Colaco signed a two-year contract with the Kolkata giants till 2023. He will join the Mariners with effect from June 1. Although the exact sum is undisclosed, the Hyderabad-based franchise has officially termed the transfer fee as the highest ever received for an Indian player. Ambekar has termed this transfer as an indication of the focus shifting from overseas players to domestic talents, well capable of making their presence felt.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Indian National Team forward, @colaco_liston who joins us from Hyderabad FC!
Liston signs a two-year deal with the Green & Maroon which keeps him at the club till 2023!#ATKMohunBagan #JoyMohunBagan #Mariners pic.twitter.com/RhXehTEnle
— ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) April 10, 2021
“I am extremely happy to note this record high-profile transfer. It’s an indication of the clubs taking note of the talented Indian players out there, and investing their faith in them,” he said while interacting with Sportslumo.
“The earlier editions of the ISL witnessed some overseas players past their prime getting preferred over exciting domestic talents, which was an area of concern. This is a step in the right direction with the focus on the development of local performers,” the defender added.
Ambekar further had words of praise for the attacker, who he termed as a player with great pace and an ability to make a difference.
“I like him as a player, having featured against him in the past. Colaco is capable of emerging as a game-changer, with his pace and dribbling. It will be interesting to face off against him in some potential derby matches,” he stated.
Colaco joined Hyderabad FC during the 2020 winter transfer window, having started his ISL career with FC Goa. He made 23 appearances for the franchise, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
The attacker was one of the top performers for Hyderabad FC during the 2020-21 season. The team came increasingly close to a top-four finish. Colaco made 19 appearances for the Hyderabad-based franchise, scoring twice and assisting thrice.
The attacker’s performance in the 2020-21 edition of the ISL also earned him a call-up to the Indian national team for international friendlies against United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
